City comparison
Portland vs Chicago Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Portland (120.2) and Chicago (113.6).
Portland Index
120.2
Chicago Index
113.6
Portland Rent
$2,675
Chicago Rent
$2,375
Portland Home price
$500,000
Chicago Home price
$377,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Portland to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Chicago.
Equivalent salary in Chicago
$90,729
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Portland and Chicago.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Portland | Chicago | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 145 | 128 | -17.0 (-11.7%) |
| Groceries | 112 | 106 | -6.0 (-5.4%) |
| Transportation | 107 | 112 | +5.0 (+4.7%) |
| Healthcare | 104 | 104 | +0.0 (+0.0%) |
| Utilities | 101 | 101 | +0.0 (+0.0%) |
| Miscellaneous | 109 | 105 | -4.0 (-3.7%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$5,440 / $5,130
Portland / Chicago
Couple
$9,030 / $8,520
Portland / Chicago
Family
$12,730 / $12,000
Portland / Chicago
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Portland city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Portland.
View Chicago city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Chicago.
Last updated: Q1 2026
Data as of Q1 2026. Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, HUD Fair Market Rents.
Cost of living indexes use the national average as baseline (100). Data is updated periodically.